Filed under: Fruits/Vegetables, houseplants, trees, Uncategorized | Tags: citrus, dwarf trees, lemon, lime, orange
Is the idea of picking fresh lemons, limes, and oranges from your own tree tempting you? It is actually possible, and relatively easy… even in our climate. Your biggest challenge, if you even call it that, will be finding space for your tree indoors for the winter. Read on for some growing tips and you will soon be picking oranges from your deck!
Science has led to dwarf citrus trees that produce fruit at young ages. The dwarf, or semi-dwarf, growing habit makes it possible to keep these trees in containers (and makes moving it indoors easier). When potting your tree, use potting mix (NOT dirt from your garden), re-potting with fresh mix every one or two years.
As mentioned above, citrus trees need to be moved indoors for the winter. They cannot tolerate frost. At all. However, they will love our hot, humid summers, and would be happiest outdoors in warmer months. Citrus trees need at least eight hours of light per day, whether it is natural or artificial. When placing your tree outdoors, choose a location that is semi-protected from wind.
Proper soil moisture is extremely important for citrus trees. The soil should be consistently moist, even just on the dry side of moist. Never, never keep the soil soggy. Before watering, check the soil moisture about an inch below the surface.
Fertilization is also crucial, as citrus trees rely heavily on nitrogen. Find a fertilizer that is at least a 2-1-1 (N-P-K) ratio and follow the package instructions.
Pruning can be done year-round and will encourage growth and improve fruit production. Be advised that extreme pruning will harm fruit yield temporarily. To shape and fill out your tree without affecting yield, simply pinch back the tips of new growth. Cut off suckers (the shoots that appear below the graft scar) as soon as you see them. They will not produce your desired fruit but will use a lot of your tree’s resources.
Most citrus trees are self-pollinating, so you can sit back and wait for your fruit to appear. Enjoy!
Filed under: houseplants, Lawn, Pests | Tags: houseplants, pest treatment, Pests, winter preparation
With the cooler nights this week we’re all thinking about bring our house plants in from outside. Here are a number of tips to help make the transition go a little smoother:
1. Inspect the plants and soil for unwelcome visitors. Give your plants a good shower before they come inside, make sure that you wash the underside of the leaves because that’s where the insects hide and lay their eggs which will hatch once they’re in your house. It’s a good idea to spray your plants with either Insecticidal Soap or a Pyrethrin spray as well. If you have a plant that you know has tough insects like mites or scale the Hi Yield Systemic Insect Granules will do a really good job.
2. Move the plant to where it’s going to stay for the winter, there will be a transition and leaves will fall, but continuing to move the plant around the house will make it worse. Find a good home and leave it there.
3. Don’t overwater, the plants indoors will need less water than outside. Water thoroughly when you water, then let the plant dry for a week to ten days (or maybe longer if it’s a dark location).
4. Remember that the sun is generating about a tenth the light in the winter than it generates in the summer. Day length decreases also from almost 16 hours in summer to 9 or 10 in late December.
5. Don’t forget that your house plants still need food over the winter; we still eat, they need to also. Feed them about half as much as you do during the summer.
Hopefully this will help give you happier house plants this winter.
One more thing: even though it was said on the Saturday morning garden show that it’s too late to sow grass seed, THAT’S DEAD WRONG, 70 degree days and 50 degree nights are perfect for germinating grass seed. Creeping and Chewings Fescues as well as Bluegrass are slower to germinate but all cool season grasses will still germinate as long as you keep them moist.
Happy Gardening
